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Last week, a video of a girl bullying another student at Culler Middle School went viral here in Lincoln, Nebraska. The video shows her grabbing the girl by the backpack and throwing her down into the street. Attention was immediately brought to the school and how they were going to solve this problem. However, the school merely replied with a statement saying they were looking into the situation. As of now, the girl has been suspended and could land in juvenile court.

All the attention to this video has made me wonder about my own school. How common is bullying? What is our policy on this issue? What kind of punishment happens for bullying and harassment? Do students typically report these incidents to staff? These are all questions I have towards Lincoln Christian. Our policy as a Christian school will obviously be different than a public school, but how much different?

In the Lincoln Christian handbook it says, “Students, parents, and staff are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is glorifying to God, to demonstrate respect and love for each other.” It then lists examples of bullying such as physical or verbal abuse. I have heard many stories of verbal and cyber bullying at Lincoln Christian, but there was a reoccurring factor in all of them. A staff member or parent was not told.

This is a glaring issue that needs to be solved. Whether it is the idea that the adult will not care, or the student fears the harassment will increase in retaliation, these kinds of incidents are often not reported and the student tries to solve it on their own. However, getting an adult involved can often put an end to this conflict.

I think one solution would be communication between teachers and students. Building relationships is essential in a student’s life. These types of connections should include teachers and staff members. Knowing that an adult is on your side, showing support, and trying to help you is a very comforting concept.

Another important aspect of this topic is what the school does about these problems. At Culler Middle School, the mom of the bullied girl said she had been to the school nine times to report issues similar to this one. I personally hope, however, that this would not be the case at LCS. We, as a school, strive to be more like Christ, and these kinds of scenarios are not taken lightly or ignored. It all comes down to the Crusader way and ultimately God’s way. If we have the desire to grow to be more like him, then these are the kinds of problems we can try and defeat to get closer to him.

The topic of bullying is something that is worldwide and has always been an issue. It is a problem that can be solved by taking small steps to show we care about each other. We, as a student body, and as believers in Christ, should strive to be more unified under our one God.